Monday, April 27, 2015

HOUGHTON FAMILY REUNION IN CORTLAND

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January
24, 1890.

Family Reunion.

Last
Sunday, Jan. 12th, was the occasion of the seventh reunion of the Houghton family
of Oswego Co., N. Y. It was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Dunsmoor
on Port Watson street. This pleasing custom was originated by the [surviving] members of the family and the date
selected in honor of the birthday of the late Mrs. Abby Houghton, of Parish, Oswego
Co., who was the grandmother of Mrs. Dunsmoor and mother of the Houghton brothers
and sisters present.

The guests
of Mr. and Mrs. Dunsmoor were Mr. and Mrs. B. D. Houghton, Mr. Claude S.
Houghton, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Skinner, all of Oswego city, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Wiles
of Auburn, Mr. and Mrs. Forest Houghton of Parish, Mr. and Mrs. E. Dodge and
Miss Blanche Dodge of Cortland. Col. C. V. Houghton and family, G. G. Houghton
and Wm. H. Houghton were absent on account of sickness. It is the custom of the
family to meet in reunion each year at the residence of the different members
of the family.

The day
and evening was passed in social reunion, with music and a generous feast. The
refreshments were gotton up and served by Mrs. H. W. Griffith and son of
Homer.

A novel
feature of the occasion was that the family assembled on the piazza at 2 P. M., Jan. 12th, 1890, bare headed and without
wraps, doors all open as in a May day and had their pictures taken in a group
by L. E. Burnham. Next year this reunion will be held at the residence of B. D. Houghton of Oswego city, he being the oldest son.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

CORTLAND
DESK COMPANY.

At the
regular annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Cortland Desk Company held recently, the following officers and directors were elected:

The
stockholders of the Howe Stove Company held their annual meeting at their offices
on Monday last and elected the following directors for the ensuing year: Wm. H. Clark, Theo. Stevenson, E. O. Rickard, J.
M. Milne, F. W. Collins, A. A. Sprague, C. E. Thompson. The directors elected
the following officers:

President—Wm. H. Clark.

Vice-President—Theo. Stevenson.

Secretary
and Treasurer—F. W. Collins.

Superintendent—A.
A. Sprague.

CORTLAND
TOP AND RAIL COMPANY.

The
stockholders of the Cortland Top and Rail Company elected the following
directors for the ensuing year at their annual meeting: Theo. Stevenson, I. H.
Palmer, C. L. Kinney, Chas H. Stickney, Adam Kinley, Willis Holmes, William
Martin.

The
following officers were chosen:

President—Theo.
Stevenson.

Vice-President—Chas.
H. Stickney.

Treasurer
and Manager—C. L. Kinney.

Secretary—Irving
H. Palmer.

Superintendent—Willis
Holmes.

EAGLE FIRE
COMPANY OF MARATHON.

On
Tuesday evening of last week, Eagle Fire Company of Marathon elected the following
officers for the ensuing year:

President—
Dr. C. B. Trafford.

Vice-President—Frank
Cusic.

Secretary—Andrew
Buckley.

Treasurer—J.
O. Peebles.

Foreman—C.
S. Myers.

Assistant—James
Cusic.

Trustees—Frank
Southworth, James Lombard, Frank Crannell.

HERE AND THERE.

The
tannery in Marathon is to be enlarged.

The
Normal school closed this week on Tuesday for a three weeks' vacation.

Messrs.
Robinson & Loucks propose to furnish the citizens of this place with clear crystal
ice from the Floral Trout ponds the coming season.

The
Evangelist, Miss Lizzie Boyd, of Clyde, N. Y., is expected to be in Cortland next
Sunday, to commence a series of revival meetings.

A social
party will be given in Freer's Hall in Higginsville, on Friday evening, January
31st. 1890. Music by Guier's full orchestra. Bill, $1.25.

Messrs.
Buck & Rose, the new hardware firm in the Standard building, have a new advertisement
in another column which should be noted by readers of the DEMOCRAT.

Mr.
Sackett L. Wright is the manager of a commission house just opened in the rooms
formerly occupied by J. W. Suggett, in Taylor Hall block He will deal in stocks,
grain, provisions, oil. etc.

The firm
of Tanner Bros. were sadly afflicted with La Grippe [influenza] the first of the week. Mr.
A. F. Tanner, it was feared, would have pneumonia. Geo. Edgcomb and G. Yager
were confined to the house, leaving Mr. Jarvis to "hold the fort."

School
Commissioners Stillman,of Cortland, Knapp of Onondaga, Maxton of Jefferson, and Knapp of Tompkins, are in Albany
conferring with Superintendent Draper, with reference to a movement for getting
a larger appropriation for the public schools, and to effect a change in the district
quota.

Those
persons who gather up the census statistics next June, are to be paid for doing
the work as follows: For every living person, two cents; for every death, two
cents; for every firm, fifteen cents; for every factory, twenty cents; for
every veteran or veteran's widow, five cents; in special cases an enumerator
may be paid by the day, not to exceed $6.00. The cost of taking the census of
1880 was over $3,000,000, and the next one is estimated to cost over $4,000,000,
the population being estimated at fifteen millions larger than 1880. The work
of enumerating has to be done during the month of June next.

Alf.
Randall will occupy the south Cushing tenement house on Main street.

"Section
boss" McCormick will occupy the old store, being a little late in securing
a better tenant.

Mr.
George Hall, who at present occupies the old store, will more on Chauncey Churchill's
farm.

The frame
for the ice house is up and nearly covered. If they could fill it first, it
would greatly facilitate the putting on the roof.

At the
dance at Lake House Hall last Friday evening, twenty-five tickets were sold.
The hall can be made very comfortable now.

It would
be a good investment to build a dozen or so cheap houses that could be rented
at $45 to $60 per year. The taxes here do not eat up the principal.

The
patrons of the milk depot wore very smiling faces as they received their checks
for the last month’s milk this morning. It was better than 30 cents per pound
for the butter from the same milk.

D. W.
Wilbur, having rented his farm to his son-in-law, has rented the Wheeler place
for the coming year. Little York must have attractions or he would have occupied
his own place at Preble.

There are
a good many sick around here. Mrs. Raymond, Mrs. Lord, Mrs. Babcock, Melvin
Pratt, Zepheniah Hicks, Al Utley, S. D. Perkins and many others. They all call
upon the new disease as the origin of it all.

William
Orton, whose escape from the County House was noticed in last week's DEMOCRAT, was arrested in Syracuse Sunday morning
and returned Monday. He is the youngest son of the late Henry Orton and
inherited a full share of his property. This deposited by the very careful
guardians in the Syracuse Savings Bank yields enough to pay for a good proper
board and care at the County Asylum.

Mr. Fred
Corl brought his wife down to stay a day or two with her parents today. The whole family of Perkins have been on the sick
list for the past two weeks.

ULI SLICK. [pen name]

TAYLOR.

Morell
Calkins is in the toils of "La grippe'' this week.

It now
looks as though our supply of ice will have to be imported from Arctic climes.
[Warm weather, January 1890—CC editor.]

Willis
Smith has been dangerously ill with pneumonia during the past week, caused by
taking cold after having the grippe. His condition now seems favorable.

The
following are the inducements offered by editor Clark of the Standard to
subscribers in this vicinity during the past few months: He agrees to send the
paper two months free, and at the end of that time they could have it one year
for $1.00. We had supposed that Mr. Clark had entered into a sacred compact a
few years ago, not to take less than $2.00. Are we right about this?

CALUMET.
[pen name]

SOLON.

About
every one seems to be in the fashion. They are having "La grippe."

The
funeral of Miss Anna Worden, of this place, was held from the Catholic church
here on Monday last.

Ira Baker
gave a social party at his home on Friday evening last. Dancing was the favorite
pastime of the evening.

Phelps
Bros, have built several fine sets of sleighs this winter. They have just completed
a "dandy" set for Sager & Corcoran.

WILLETT.

Mrs. C.
P. McVean is suffering from a severe attack of influenza.

Those who
attended the oyster supper on Wednesday evening last, report a pleasant time.

The first
victim of scarlet fever was buried here yesterday. A little daughter of Maurice
Johnson.

The
public are invited to help the M. E. Society pay their pastor's salary by
giving him a donation at Wiles' Hall on Wednesday evening, January 29th, 1890.

There
seems to be a general demand for about eighteen inches of snow, warranted to
lie where it fails, and remain about three months.

"CLEO."
[pen name of correspondent]

FREETOWN
CORNERS.

Professor
Lathrop and James Smith are staying with friends in Lapeer over Sunday.

The proprietor
of our store is very lenient with the roughs. Ten dollars pays all damages.

Harvy
Tuttle sold his black team to parties south for the sum of $225, and he has more
good teams left.Mr. Geo. Burton of
Groton has agreed to work for Harvy Tuttle the coming summer at $22 per month.

Rev. Mr.
Topping spoke to an attentive audience, from these words "Work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling."

The la
grippe has not only reached our place but inhabits most every house. It has
already outlived its welcome and many will be glad to give it the go-by.

A great
change is about to take place here this spring. A. Stanton of Blodgett Mills will move on to Solomon Carr's farm. A.
Metzgar on Mr. Tuttle's farm, L. Stanton on the Eaton place and many others too
numerous to mention.

At the
Agricultural Bureau there was a prize offered to the one that raised the most potatoes
from one pound of seed. Mrs. S. Klock of our town received the second premium,
which was fifty dollars. Farmers or Grangers beat this if you can.

KATE [pen
name]

BLODGETT'S
MILLS.

John
Burke and John Sears swapped horses the other day.

John Lee
crushed the end of one of his fingers last Monday by getting it caught in one
of the cogwheels of the hand car that he was helping to lift from the R. R.
track.

John
Sears, who has been living for several years on the farm owned by Duell &
Benedict, is going to move on the Oliver Stafford farm about 1/2 mile north of
State Bridge.

The
Teachers' Association is to be held in this place Saturday, Jan. 25. As this session
bids fair to be one of especial interest let's all go. The entertainment committee
have made arrangements to provide dinner for the teachers in the basement of the
M. E. church.

Curious
to see the mail bag taken from the "crane,'' Mr. Sherman Sholes leisurely started
to cross the R. R. track in advance of the rapidly approaching 5 o'clock mail and
express. A warning screech from the engine and a dexterous grab by Verne
Merrick, barely succeeded in getting the old gentleman across. While the rush
of the passing train blew his scanty locks about his ears, he quietly remarked
"guess he knew enough to get out of the way" but admitted the cars
were nearer than he thought. It was indeed a very narrow escape which must have
terminated in a sad accident only for the timely aid of young Merrick who is
employed at the depot.

EAST HOMER.

George P.
Miller is said to be dangerously ill.

Mr.
Harvey Hammond is reported as being very low.

Business
here is very dull; almost at a standstill. Would it be in order for some of our
Republican friends to arise and explain?

There are
several new cases of grippe reported since last week. The old Russian bear
sticks to this place like grim death to a dead nigger.

Report
says Wilfred Young has purchased the interest of the rest of the heirs in the
farm formerly owned by John Young, deceased.

Mr. J. M.
Seacord is just recovering from an attack of pneumonia, the result of a relapse
from la grippe. Dr. Higgins of Cortland attended him.

UNCLE SI.
[pen name]

MARATHON.

Wm. J.
Mantanye Esq. was in town on Monday.

Walter
Adams of Syracuse, N. Y. was in town Tuesday.

Moses
Adams is dangerously ill at his home on Front street.

Wm.
Valentine died at his home about two miles north of this Village on Monday last.

Elmer
Schouton has purchased the milk route of Frank Corwin, and will hereafter distribute
milk to his customers.

Mrs.
DeForrest Baker is confined to her home with a severe attack of pneumonia, and
fears are entertained for her recovery.

Mrs.
Benj. Adams an old resident of this town died at her home on First street
Monday afternoon. She was 77 years old. The funeral services are at the house
on Thursday.

**

* [pen name
symbol]

PREBLE.

Mrs. J. B. Briggs
is on the sick list with the grippe.

Mrs. Geo. Barker is
one of the lucky number of those having the grippe.

Homer Cummings
commenced loading his maple logs on the cars at Preble on Monday.

Our school
commenced on Monday of this week. Mr. Jones, although not fully recovered from
his illness, but by dint of exertion on his part is able to attend to the school
duties.

The funeral of Mr.
Dix Hobert was held on Sunday afternoon last, at 1 o'clock, at the house of Dr.
H. D. Hunt, a son-in-law of the deceased. He was seventy-six years of age. Rev.
Mr. Curtis officiated.

Matthias Van Hoesen
is quite ill with the grippe, and it may well be said of his house that it is a
hospital. His wife has been an invalid for a long time. Mrs. Green, his
daughter, is in poor health, but keeps around, and Ryan Green came home on
Sunday afternoon with both bones of his leg broken, caused by falling on the sidewalk
in Cortland, on Saturday evening. He was in attendance at court as deputy.
Albert V. H. Cummings brought him home.